You bear the badge of Heaven where'er you go,
And beauty's mine, more worth than all below.
Qu. M. Where shall I fly?

Nor. "To Scythia, wilds of beasts.

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"Or," any where but this accursed court;
To Scotland fly, where the repenting Morton,
(Whom real pity of your matchless sufferings
Has turn'd a saint) has writ to all the states
To meet, receive you, and approve your choice.
Qu. M. First let my virtue with my mind consult.
Nor. Nay, while we think, we stumble on our graves,
Or prison" else," you know not what the queen,
And your vile foes are now consulting of.

Qu. M. To fly suspected, is to make me guilty :
Yet she condemns, and shuns me like a monster,
Denies what to the meanest criminal she grants.
Nor. A moment will undo us.

"Qu. M. Whilst fears, and hopes, to be victorious strive,

"Like seas with bold contrary winds opprest, "They rouse the quiet ocean in my breast."

Enter DAVISON and guards.

Dav. The queen, my mistress, to her royal sister, The wrong'd and beauteous majesty of Scotland, Sends by her slave, the dearest of all loves,

Not such as wanton fickle lovers give,
But such as royal friendship owes to virtue ;

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She lovingly intreats

you

would accept

Of this her guard.

Nor. Ha!

Dav. Not as a restraint,

But to protect your life against your foes,
Which still she prizes dearer than her own.
Without are officers prepar'd to wait you
To an apartment nearest to herself.

My lord, it is the queen's command,

You leave this place, and instantly attend her. [Exit. Nor. Immortal Powers, a guard!

Qu. M. Haste, noble duke, prevent her threat'ning

rage.

Plead for yourself-behold I am not worse,
Than when you saw me first at Fotheringay.
Nor. Oh, rigid caution! Virtue too severe !
You have done a cruel justice on yourself,
And quite undone your Norfolk.

Qu. M. Give me your hand;

I will be yours, or never be another's,

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"That as my heart!" but, oh, most gallant Norfolk! Some time allow to weigh the nice regards,

Of jealous honour in a prince's breast;
Cruel example, cruel greatness awes

Her sex and monarchs with the hardest laws

Farewel.

[Exit.

Nor. Oh, tyrant law! more cruel greatness still;
Man till forbidden knew not what was ill;
And till ambition sow'd the fatal strife,

Husbands were blest, each bride a happy wife;
E

"Virtue once reign'd, and then was so renown'd, "Valour made kings, and beauty oft was crown'd;" Merit did then, much more than interest plead, The happy pair but lik'd, and soon agreed; "But now love's bought, and marriage grown a trade, "Estate and dower are in the balance weigh'd ;" Love still was free, till pride got in by stealth,

And ne'er a slave till undermin'd by wealth.

[Exeunt severally.

ACT III. SCENE I.

Enter MORTON and DAVISON.

Morton.

Now, famous Davison, 'tis in your power
To be the genius of our threaten'd nation ;
And the protector of your crown and laws;
"A glorious merit offers to espouse you,

"And make your name in England's cause renown'd;" Your mistress must not see the queen of Scotland,

This you must study to prevent, for 'tis

To give a dagger to a lunatick !

How does she hold her yesterday's resolve?

Dav. Just as I fear'd; for in her bed-chamber, Early this morn, I found the duke of Norfolk, Upon his knees petitioning for the queen ; At first she started, whilst her eyes shot flames,

And bid him in a fury straight begone;

Then, with an elevated tone, she cry'd,

What must I ne'er be kneel'd to, but for her:
"All knees, all hearts, must bend to her alone;
"Whilst I, like the dull slavish animal

"That bore the goddess' image on his back,
"Am worshipp'd only for her."

Mor. Said rarely!

Dav. Then on a sudden, call'd him back again,
Blotting a tear that fell in spite of her,
And bid him go to the distress'd poor queen,
Sending her ring, and with it many a sigh;
Tell her, said she, though jealousies of state
Forbid that we should meet; not many days,
Not many hours I am resolv'd to live,
Unless I hold her in these arms for ever.
Mor. Then all my fears again return.
Dav. The duke

Rose from the ground, exalted and inspir'd,
Leaving the queen with Cecil and myself;

But soon on us, presuming to advise her,
She thunder'd, as th' immortals on the giants,
And made us feel what 'twas to war with heaven:
"Then in a rage she darted from her closet,
"And threw the door so hard with such a fury
"(As I have seen her father Harry do)

"That made us tremble."

Mor. What would you advise?

Dav. I know not, for she wearies her attendants,

20

40

And fain would shake them off; "surveys each

chamber,

"And measures every apartment in the palace "A hundred times."

I know the cause, and though her soul's too proud,
And would not stoop to see the Scottish queen,
Yet she seeks all occasions out to meet her;
"And therefore loiters like a miser's ghost,
"About the treasure that it lov'd on earth.”
Mor. This mighty duke must be lopp'd low, or fall;
"His towering branches are too vast, and high,
"Under whose tops our queen securely lies,
"And mocks the just avenging storms above."
He thinks he's clear'd from all accounts of guilt;
But I have that will set him in arrear,

Ne'er to be paid, and ne'er to be forgiven.
I'll to the duke.

Dav. And I'll go seek the queen.

[As Davison is going out, Gifford meets him.

What art thou that has haunted me so long?

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"Thou look'st as if thou meanʼst to draw my picture;

"I saw thee in the presence of the queen,

"Which as I left, thou follow'dst me,

"And still survey'st me with a curious eye.
"What would'st thou with me? Say, what art ?.”

Gif. A man;

And what indeed is rare in such a place,

A miracle at court; an honest man.

Dav. That were in truth, a wonder.